In situ heat induced antigen recovery and staining apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

An automated in situ heat induced antigen recovery and staining method and apparatus for treating a plurality of microscope slides. The process of heat induced antigen recovery and the process of staining the biological sample on the microscope slide are conducted in the same apparatus, wherein the microscope slides do not need to by physically removed from one apparatus to another. Each treatment step occurs within the same reaction compartment. The reaction conditions of each reaction compartment for treating a slide can preferably be controlled independently, including the individualized application of reagents to each slide and the individualized treatment of each slide. The reagents are preferably held in a reagent dispensing strip similar to a “blister pack”.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication Serial No. 60/142,789, filed Jul. 8, 1999, which is herebyincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

The present invention is related to the field of treating samples onmicroscope slides and more specifically to the field of heat inducedantigen recovery and staining.

Antigen recovery, also known as antigen unmasking, antigen epitopeunmasking, antigen retrieval or heat induced epitope recovery (HIER) isa process in which biological samples (e.g., cells, tissues, blood,fluids) are treated under heat with a series of aqueous or non-aqueousreagents and buffers (e.g., citrate, EDTA, and urea) for the purpose ofexposing the presence of specific types of antigens or biochemicalfeatures in the biological samples. HIER is regarded as a pre-treatmentprocedure to be performed prior to the beginning of a specific stainingprotocol to identify cellular components.

Biological samples must be preserved after removal from the body. Thispreservation process, known as fixation, kills and localizes thebiological material. One of the most common fixatives used widely in thepreservation of biological materials is formalin, a 10% aqueous solutionof formaldehyde. This fixative, along with other widely utilizedfixatives, produces a cross-linking network around specific sites in thebiological material. These sites are known as antigens, and during thefixation process become “masked,” by the fixative and thus “invisible”to detection by certain stains. HIER is used as a pre-treatment processto “unmask,” “retrieve” or “recover.” This process is usually conductedon formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue sections or cellularpreparations mounted on microscope slides.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,244,787 teaches a process of antigen retrieval whereinone or more slides are placed in an aqueous solution within a microwaveoven and heated to boiling or near-boiling temperatures. These slidesare all treated together in a rack that has been placed in a bath of thesolution. The slides are near boiling temperatures for 5-30 minutes,generally around 10 minutes. Due to excessive evaporation from the bath,the patent teaches that the solution should not drop below thebiological sample on the slide because drying out of the sample isdeleterious. This process further teaches that after boiling ornear-boiling for several minutes, usually 5 minutes, one may have to addmore solution to the container to prevent the solution from excessiveevaporation and subsequent exposure of the samples on the slides. Afterthe addition of more liquid, the process is continued until the desiredtime is completed. The disclosure of 5,244,787 is limited to the use ofa microwave oven as the source of heating. More recent advances, whichhave been published, include the use of different types of heatingdevices such as electric pressure cookers, electric steamers, electricconduction heating surfaces utilizing pressure cookers, steamers, andalso steam driving autoclaves (J. of Pathology, 179:347-352, 1996;Biotechnic & Histochemistry, 71(5):263-270, 1996; Biotechnic &Histochemistry, 71(4) :190-195, 1996; J. of Histochemistry &Cytochemistry, 45(3): 327-342, 1997).

Although these published methodologies treat the biological sample withdifferent types of solutions and with varying types of chemicals and atdifferent pH's, all teach that all slides are treated together in a bathof the heated solution. After the slides have cooled for a period oftime, they are removed from the heating device and they are transferredto another apparatus where they are manually or automatically stainedusing various reagents. This pre-treatment process of heating andremoving the slides from the heating device for staining in a separatedapparatus is highly cumbersome and inefficient. The only automated HIERor antigen retrieval instrument available is the BIOGENEX i1000. Thisinstrument, however, still employs the use of the known technology oftreating the slides as a group in a container filled with heatedsolutions. A technician must still remove the slides from the antigenretrieval (heating) instrument and place them in an automated stainerinstrument to complete the required staining protocol.

As noted herein, no currently available automated or semi-automatedstaining instruments specifically teach the ability to heat an aqueousor non-aqueous liquid for the unmasking of antigens. The instrumentsthat do automated or semi-automated staining limit their scope to thattask alone, and don't address the task of HIER or antigen retrievalpre-treatments. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,073,504 and 4,847,208 teach use of achamber for enclosing and staining a microscope slide but neitherteaches use of a heating device to boil a liquid and the user must addthe primary antibody manually through a hinged door on top of thechamber. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,777,020; 4,798,706; and 4,801,431 teach use ofa vertical staining “capillary gap” methodology wherein two specialslides placed front to front causing an air gap through which liquidsare drawn by capillary movement. This gap can only hold a small volume(approx. 300 microliters) of liquid. If heated to near boilingconditions the liquid would evaporate through all four open sides,immediately causing the biological sample to dry. This end result istrue also for another capillary gap instrument, shown in U.S. Pat. No.5,804,141. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,595,707; 5,654,200; 5,654,199, 5,595,707;and 5,650,327 teach reducing evaporative loss by utilizing an oil layeron top of the aqueous layer. This is somewhat effective in reducing theamount of evaporative loss at 37° C. but the volume of the aqueous layer(approx. 300 microliters) is again minimal, and if heated to boiling,would cause the aqueous layer to dry out leaving only the oil layerpresent thus damaging the biological sample unless more aqueous reagentwas applied during the treatment process. U.S. Pat. No. 5,425,918 alsoteaches use of small amounts of liquids that are sprayed on the slideand can only heat the slide to 37° C. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,645,144 and5,947,167 teach use of an open top chamber present around the slide anduse a rotating cover above the slides to reduce evaporation. There is noteaching of high temperature heating of a liquid for a substantialamount of time. Further, even if one would increase the temperature ofthe slide, the loosely rotating top of the chamber would allow so muchevaporative loss that the solution would never reach boiling or nearboiling temperatures, nor would it maintain the boiling conditions for10 minutes or longer. U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,114 teaches use of smallvolumes of liquids (up to 500 microliters) and has no ability to stopevaporative loss if the slide temperature reaches boiling conditions.

As a result, none of these systems could hold sufficient liquid on topof a slide (e.g., 4 ml) and are enclosed in a chamber which is properlyvented to minimize the energy loss from evaporation to cause sufficientheating to boil the liquid on the slide for the length of time generallyrequired to cause antigen unmasking (e.g., 10-30 minutes).

There remains a need for an apparatus which can perform the task of HIERwith subsequent staining treatment without the need of switching theslides from one apparatus to another and wherein the treatment of allmicroscope slides can occur simultaneously thereby increasingefficiency. Of the automated stainers available today, there is not oneinstrument that has the ability to overcome the inherent problems ofheating an aqueous or non-aqueous solution at a sufficient volumewithout the undesirable effect of evaporative heat loss and subsequentvolume decrease of the solution. The negative effects of evaporation aresignificant. The ability of a liquid to reach boiling or near boilingtemperature on a microscope slide is dependent on the containment andcontrol of the steam or vapor generated during the heating process. Itis the object of the invention contemplated herein to provide acompletely automated HIER apparatus which can recover antigens withmultiple types of recovery buffers simultaneously, each specific to itsrespective microscope slide and which can also be used to stain themicroscope slides as well.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus of the invention (shownwithout a pressing element for crushing a reagent capsule).

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 (shown witha pressing element for crushing a reagent capsule).

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 (shown witha reaction compartment having a raised slide support surface) takenthrough line 3A—3A.

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 (shown witha reaction compartment having a lowered slide support surface) takenthrough line 3B—3B.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of theapparatus of the present invention having an alternate type of slidesupport surface.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a reagent strip of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the reagent strip of FIG. 5 takenthrough the line 6—6.

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of a modular apparatus containing aplurality of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing a preferred sequence of steps in themethod of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an automated method and apparatusfor treating biological samples on microscope slides for unmasking(“retrieving” or “recovering”) epitopes or antigens of the biologicalsamples and then staining or otherwise treating the biological samples.The automated apparatus comprises an array of individual reactioncompartments, each of which is used to treat a single microscope slide(also referred to herein as a “slide”), wherein each reactioncompartment preferably can function and can be controlled independentlyof the other reaction compartments in the array. Each reactioncompartment in the array comprises a support element comprising asurface upon which a microscope slide can be supported and positionedadjacent or inserted into the compartment for treatment with a reagent.The support element further comprises, in a preferred embodiment, aconduction type heating element for heating the microscope slide to apredetermined treatment temperature when desired. The support elementwith the microscope slide thereon can be raised into or adjacent thereaction compartment for treatment of the microscope slide, or loweredor removed from the reaction compartment for placement of a microscopeslide onto or removed from the support surface or for removal of areagent or rinsing solution from the microscope slide during thetreatment process.

Reagents, such as antibodies, enzymes, rinse buffers, antigen recoverybuffers, or stains, are contained in an individualized reagentdispensing strip which is specific for each microscope slide to betreated. Since each microscope slide and reaction compartment isgenerally provided with its own reagent dispensing strip, eachmicroscope slide can be treated independently with a different set ofreagents (a particular treatment protocol) while being treatedsimultaneously with other microscope slides. Similarly, in an especiallypreferred embodiment of the invention, each microscope slide can beheated separately, as well as treated with a different treatmentprotocol. The apparatus of the present invention therefore comprises, ina preferred embodiment, a plurality of individualized reactioncompartments in a chamber which can be substantially closed forminimizing evaporation during heating. A microscope slide can besupported in each reaction compartment, and each microscope slide can beheated separately therein. A reagent dispensing strip containing aplurality of individually contained reagents (reagent “bubbles”,“blisters” or “capsules”) is positioned upon an upper portion of eachreaction compartment, and at an appropriate time, a reagent from eachreagent dispensing strip is expelled from a reagent capsule undercompression and is thereby applied to the biological sample on themicroscope slide. Or, a reagent, such as an antigen recovery buffer canbe introduced via a separate dispenser. The term “reagent” is definedherein to include any type of fluid material that may be applied to thebiological material on the microscope slide, including antibodies,stains, enzymes, buffers, rinses, or washes, or any other materialapplied in the process of antigen recovery or treating the biologicalmaterial on the microscope slide to be viewed under the microscope.

During an antigen recovery step, the microscope slide, sample, andantigen recovery buffer thereon are heated to an appropriate temperaturefor a predetermined duration to cause the antigen recovery buffer toreact with the sample on the microscope slide, after which the antigenrecovery buffer is removed from the microscope slide, preferably bywashing or flooding the microscope slide or chamber containing themicroscope slide with a rinse buffer and allowing the rinse buffer todrain off by gravity or by blowing the solution off the microscope slideusing pressurized air. Each microscope slide may be treated in the samemanner, or may be treated with different reagents using a differenttreatment protocol, preferably simultaneously, yet independently.

When a reagent is provided via a reagent dispensing strip, the apparatusis preferably equipped with a drive mechanism for causing the reagentdispensing strip to be advanced in a forward direction wherein eachreagent capsule in succession is positioned above an aperture in thecompartment through which the reagent in the capsule is delivered. Thereagent dispensing strip may be advanced using rollers positioned alongthe upper end of the compartment or a pushing mechanism which pushesupon the rear end of the reagent dispensing strip. The reagent in thereagent capsule of the reagent dispensing strip is to be applied to themicroscope slide by a pressing mechanism which, in a preferred version,compresses and thereby crushes the reagent capsule and causes thereagent to be expelled and deposited directly onto the microscope slide.

In a preferred method of the present invention, a plurality ofmicroscope slides, each having thereon a sample to be treated, isprovided. Each microscope slide is positioned upon a support elementwhich is then moved into an application position. A plurality of reagentdispensing strips is provided, one for each microscope slide to betreated. Each microscope slide is subjected to an antigen recovery stepthen is treated by applying a reagent from its corresponding reagentdispensing strip. Each microscope slide can be handled differently, ifdesired, during the treatment cycle. After a predetermined duration, themicroscope slide and support element is moved to a removal positionwherein the reagent is removed, preferably in between reagentapplications, by treatment with a rinsing solution to remove the reagentprior to further treatment. Each microscope slide can be treatedaccording to the treatment protocol specific to that sample or thatparticular microscope slide. All microscope slides may be treated usingthe same protocol, or one or more, or all, of the microscope slides maybe treated using a different protocol.

An example of a treatment protocol comprises:

1) antigen recovery, 10 minutes at 98° C.,

2) cool, 20 minutes,

3) rinse buffer,

4) primary antibody, 30 minutes,

5) rinse,

6) biotinylated linking antibody, 10 minutes,

7) rinse buffer,

8) peroxidase labeled streptavidin label,

9) rinse buffer,

10) 3,3′-diaminobenzidine chromogen,

11) rinse buffer,

12) chromogen enhancer,

13) rinse buffer, and

14) counter stain.

A variety of other treatment protocols are well known to those ofordinary skill in the art and further discussion of them herein is notdeemed necessary. Each microscope slide, if necessary, may be heatedprior to application of the reagent, if necessary, then may be cooled asthe reagent is removed, then reheated, if necessary, prior to or afteraddition of the next reagent. The entire process is run automaticallyonce the microscope slide is disposed onto the support element, and thereagent dispensing strip is positioned upon the upper side of thereaction compartment.

Turning now to the drawings, a specific embodiment of the apparatus ofthe present invention is shown in FIGS. 1-6. Although FIGS. 1-6 show apreferred version of the invention, it will be understood that theembodiment shown in FIGS. 1-6 is but one of many possible versions ofthe apparatus enabled herein which will come to the mind of a person ofordinary skill in the art.

Shown in FIG. 1, and designated therein by the general reference numeral10 is an antigen recovery and staining apparatus constructed inaccordance with the present invention. The antigen recovery and stainingapparatus 10 comprises a treatment chamber 12 which further comprises aplurality of reaction compartments 14 (see FIGS. 2-4). Preferably thetreatment chamber 12 generally comprises from 10 to 20 reactioncompartments 14 but may contain more or fewer. Each reaction compartment14, when enclosed, minimizes evaporation of a reagent solution when amicroscope slide is exposed to high temperature pretreatment conditions.Each reaction compartment 14 has an upper side 16 having an opening 18therein, a lower side 20, and a pair of sidewalls 22 which extend fromthe rear end 23 a of the treatment chamber 12 to the front end 23 b ofthe treatment chamber 12. Positioned above each reaction compartment 14is a reagent dispensing strip holder 24 for holding and guiding areagent dispensing strip 26 (see FIGS. 5 and 6). Each reagent dispensingstrip 26 has a front end 28 and a rear end 30 and a plurality ofcapsules 32 made of a crushable plastic material such as polyethylene oranother suitable material (e.g., polypropylene or polystyrene) and whichmay include one or more multiple capsules 32 a. The size of each capsule32 or multiple capsule 32 a may be adjusted to accommodate the amount ofreagent which is desired to be applied to a microscope slide 44. Eachcapsule 32 or multiple capsule 32 a contains a reagent or treatmentsolution which is intended to be applied to a biological material on themicroscope slide 44. Multiple capsule 32 a is useful in a method whereintwo or more reagents must be contained separately before being appliedto the microscope slide 44. When the multiple capsule 32 a is crushed bythe pressing mechanism 36, two or more reagents contained within thecapsule 32 a are combined and simultaneously applied to the microscopeslide 44.

Other embodiments of the reagent dispensing strip 26 and the reagentcapsule 32 and multiple capsule 32 a will readily be apparent to one ofordinarily skill in the art. For example, each reagent dispensing strip26 may comprise a one or more “blank” spaces for insertion ofindividualized capsules 32 by a user. Below each capsule 32 or multiplecapsule 32 a is an aperture or weak area 34 in the reagent dispensingstrip 26 through which the reagent in the capsule 32 or multiplecapsules 32 can be forced by a pressing mechanism 36. The “blank” spaceor space left by the puncturing of a capsule 32 or 32 a, or vents in thereagent dispensing strip 26 may function to release pressure, steam orvapors produced during the treatment process. The reagent dispensingstrip 26 is advanced in a direction 37 toward the front end 23 b of thetreatment chamber 12 by a reagent strip drive mechanism 38 driven, forexample, by an electric motor which in FIGS. 1, 3A and 3B is shown as apushing mechanism comprising a threaded shaft, but which may instead bya mechanism (not shown) comprising rollers which drive, draw or “pull”the reagent strip holder 24 in a forward direction 37.

Each reaction compartment 14 further comprises at its lower side 20 aslide support assembly 39 comprising a plurality of slide supportelements 40 each having a slide tray 42 upon which the microscope slide44 can be positioned and held for treatment. With the microscope slide44 disposed on the slide support element 40, the slide support element40 and the microscope slide 44 are positioned in an application positionto fit adjacent the lower side 20 of the reaction compartment 14,thereby constituting an openable bottom of the reaction compartment 14.The slide support element 40 further has a heating element 46incorporated therein for heating the microscope slide 44 as discussedelsewhere herein. In one embodiment, the slide support element 40 has ahinge 48 for enabling the slide support element 40 to be moved (raised)into an application position (FIG. 3A) and therefrom lowered into anopened position (see FIG. 3B). Alternatively, the slide support element40 may be raised and lowered into position by another mechanism, such asa stepper motor 58 and screw drive 59 mechanism (FIG. 4). Each reactioncompartment 14 further comprises a manifold 50 which comprises, in apreferred embodiment, a plurality of reagent dispensing ports orelements including, for example but not limited to, an antigen recoverybuffer dispenser 51 connected via an antigen recovery buffer supply line51 a to an antigen recovery buffer supply (not shown), a rinse bufferdispenser 52 connected via a rinse buffer supply line 52 a to a rinsebuffer supply (not shown) and an air pressure nozzle 54 connected via anair line 54 a to an air supply (not shown). The antigen recovery bufferdispenser 51 applies an antigen recovery buffer to the microscope slide44 for the antigen recovery treatment step prior to staining or otherpreparation of the biological material on the microscope slide 44. Therinse buffer dispenser 52 applies a rinse buffer 56 to the microscopeslide 44 to rinse a reagent from the microscope slide 44. The airpressure nozzle 54 functions to clear away a rinse buffer 56 from themicroscope slide 44. Dispensers 51 and 52 may be used to dispense otherreagents, and may constitute more than, or fewer than, the dispensersshown in FIGS. 2, 3A, 3B, and 4. The microscope slide 44 is generallydisposed in a removal position for facilitating removal of the rinsebuffer 56 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3B. Each slide support element 40, ina preferred embodiment, can be heated or moved independently of anyother slide support element 40, although one of ordinary skill in theart can envision that the slide support elements 40 may be designed tooperate in concert, i.e., simultaneously.

The antigen recovery and staining apparatus 10 can be controlledautomatically wherein predetermined sequences and operations are carriedout using various electromechanical systems which are not shown butwhich are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example,each of the steps of raising into a treatment position and lowering intoa removal position each of the slide support elements 40, applying anantigen recovery buffer, advancing each reagent dispensing strip 26,compressing each capsule 32 or 32 a of the reagent dispensing strip 26,heating each microscope slide 44 on the slide support surface 40,applying a rinse buffer 56 to the microscope slide 44, removing therinse buffer 56 or other reagent from the microscope slide 44, andtreating each microscope slide 44 independently can be automaticallycontrolled and programed using programming methods and devices wellknown in the art. Because each reaction compartment 14 and slide supportelement 40 can be controlled independently, a microscope slide 44 caneven be removed or inserted even while other reaction compartments 14are in operation.

Preferably, a microprocessor, not shown, controls the antigen recoveryand staining apparatus 10. That is, an operator programs themicroprocessor with information such as which reaction compartments 14are to be used and to what temperature each is to be heated and at whichsteps, then programs the particular treatment protocol to be performedon the sample on each microscope slide 44 on each slide support element40. Variables in these protocols can include the particular type ofreagent dispensing strip 26 to be used, the time that each reagent ortreatment solution on the reagent dispensing strip 26 will be allowed toreact with the sample on the microscope slide 44, whether the microscopeslide 44 will be heated, and if so to what temperature and for how long,and the manner in which the microscope slide 44 will be rinsed, forexample. Other variables not listed herein may also be programmed.

The invention may further comprise a modular apparatus 60 comprising aplurality of antigen recovery and staining apparatuses 10 each servingas an individual module in the modular apparatus 60. The individualmodules can be “stacked” together for example, as shown in FIG. 7, ormay be oriented in any other desirable manner.

Shown in FIG. 8 is a schematic drawing which describes the preferredmethod of the present invention. In the first step, a microscope slide44 which has a sample disposed thereon is provided, and is disposed ontoa slide support element 40 which is moved into an application ortreatment position adjacent or against the reaction compartment 14. If aplurality of microscope slides 44 are supplied, each microscope slide 44is disposed on a separate microscope slide support element 40 and themicroscope slides 44 are moved independently or simultaneously into anapplication position.

Once in the application position, an antigen recovery buffer isinitially applied to the sample on the microscope slide 44. Microscopeslide 44 is then heated to a desired, predetermined temperature, forexample from about 140° C. to about 160° C. whereby the antigen recoverybuffer is heated to a temperature of from about 90° C. to 100° C., forexample. The microscope slide 44 is allowed to react with the reagentfor a predetermined length of time, for example, 10 to 30 minutes,preferably at 95°-98° C. Venting of steam may occur through small holes(not shown) in the reagent strip 26 or elsewhere in the reactioncompartment 14. It is not necessary to add additional antigen recoverybuffer during this step. After the reaction period is over, the slidesupport element 40 and the microscope slide 44 thereon are moved(lowered or dropped) to a removal position, if necessary, where theantigen recovery buffer is removed from the microscope slide 44, forexample, by applying a rinsing solution or buffer to the microscopeslide 44 or by gravity or by pressurized air. A rinse solution or buffermay be applied and removed more than once for treatment or for removalof a particular reagent before or after lowering the microscope slide 44to the removal position. It may be desirable to add rinse buffer to themicroscope slide 44 to cool the microscope slide 44 prior to loweringthe microscope slide 44 to the removal position, for example, by addingrinse buffer 56 to the antigen recovery buffer before the microscopeslide 44 is moved to the removal position. After the microscope slide 44has been treated for antigen recovery, another reagent can then beapplied for treatment of the sample on the microscope slide 44. In thisstep, the microscope slide 44 and slide support element 40 are thenreturned to the application position, a reagent is applied, and is thenremoved after the treatment period. The series of steps may be repeated.When the treatment of the sample is completed, the microscope slide 44is removed from the slide support element 40 for further treatment oranalysis apart from the antigen recovery and staining apparatus 10.

Changes may be made in the construction and the operation of the variouscomponents, elements and assemblies described herein or in the steps orthe sequence of steps of the methods described herein without departingfrom the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An in situ antigen recovery and stainingapparatus for treating tissue samples on microscope slides, comprising:a slide support assembly comprising a plurality of slide supportelements for supporting a plurality of microscope slides; a heatingelement incorporated into or adjacent each slide support element forheating a microscope slide on the slide support element; and a treatmentchamber comprising a plurality of closeable reaction compartments, eachreaction compartment having an openable bottom comprising a portion ofthe slide support element and an upper side for supporting a reagentdispensing strip and the upper side having an upper opening throughwhich a reagent can be delivered from the reagent dispensing strip intoan inner space of the reaction compartment.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1further comprising: a drive mechanism for advancing each reagentdispensing strip into a dispensing position; a press assembly comprisinga plurality of pressing mechanisms for puncturing a reagent capsule onthe reagent dispensing strip for delivering a reagent from the reagentcapsule through the upper opening of the reaction compartment into thereaction compartment below the reagent dispensing strip; a dispenser,for dispensing a quantity of a rinse solution into each reactioncompartment; and a nozzle for delivering a stream of pressurized airinto each reaction compartment.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 furthercomprising a port for dispensing an antigen recovery buffer into thereaction compartment.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the drivemechanism can operate to independently advance each reagent dispensingstrip.
 5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the press assembly canoperate such that each pressing mechanism can operate independently. 6.The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each dispenser can operateindependently.
 7. The apparatus of claim 2 where each nozzle can operateindependently.
 8. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the drive mechanismcan operate to simultaneously advance each reagent dispensing strip. 9.The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the press assembly can operate suchthat each pressing mechanism can operate simultaneously.
 10. Theapparatus of claim 2 wherein each dispenser can operate simultaneously.11. The apparatus of claim 2 where each nozzle can operatesimultaneously.
 12. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the heating elementcan operate to independently heat each microscope slide disposed on theslide support assembly.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each slidesupport element is independently movable.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1wherein each slide support element is movable upwardly and downwardly.15. A modular treatment apparatus comprising a plurality of the in situantigen recovery and staining apparatuses of claim
 1. 16. The apparatusof claim 1 wherein the heating element can operate to simultaneouslyheat each microscope slide disposed on the slide support assembly. 17.The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each slide support element issimultaneously movable.
 18. An in situ antigen recovery and stainingapparatus for treating tissue samples on microscope slides, comprising:a slide support assembly comprising a plurality of slide supportelements for supporting a plurality of microscope slides; a heatingelement incorporated into or adjacent each slide support element forheating a microscope slide on the slide support element; and a treatmentchamber comprising a plurality of closeable reaction compartments, eachreaction compartment having an openable bottom comprising a portion ofthe slide support element and an upper side for supporting a reagentdispensing strip and the upper side having an upper opening throughwhich a reagent can be delivered from the reagent dispensing strip intoan inner space of the reaction compartment wherein the reagents can bedelivered into the plurality of reaction compartments simultaneously.19. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising: a drive mechanism foradvancing each reagent dispensing strip into a dispensing position; apress assembly comprising a plurality of pressing mechanisms forpuncturing a reagent capsule on the reagent dispensing strip fordelivering a reagent from the reagent capsule through the upper openingof the reaction compartment into the reaction compartment below thereagent dispensing strip; a dispenser, for dispensing a quantity of arinse solution into each reaction compartment; and a nozzle fordelivering a stream of pressurized air into each reaction compartment.20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the drive mechanism can operate toindependently or simultaneously advance each reagent dispensing strip.21. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the press assembly can operatesuch that each pressing mechanism can operate independently orsimultaneously.
 22. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein each dispenser canoperate independently or simultaneously.
 23. The apparatus of claim 19where each nozzle can operate independently or simultaneously.
 24. Theapparatus of claim 18 further comprising a port for dispensing anantigen recovery buffer into the reaction compartment.
 25. The apparatusof claim 18 wherein the heating element can operate to independently orsimultaneously heat each microscope slide disposed on the slide supportassembly.
 26. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein each slide supportelement is independently or simultaneously movable.
 27. The apparatus ofclaim 18 wherein each slide support element is movable upwardly anddownwardly.
 28. A modular treatment apparatus comprising a plurality ofthe in situ antigen recovery and staining apparatuses of claim
 18. 29.An in situ antigen recovery and staining apparatus for treating tissuesamples on microscope slides, comprising: a slide support assemblycomprising a plurality of slide support elements for supporting aplurality of microscope slides; a heating element incorporated into oradjacent each slide support element for heating a microscope slide onthe slide support element; and a treatment chamber comprising aplurality of closeable reaction compartments, each reaction compartmenthaving an openable bottom comprising a portion of the slide supportelement and an upper side for supporting a reagent dispensing strip andthe upper side having an upper opening through which a reagent can bedelivered from the reagent dispensing strip into an inner space of thereaction compartment and wherein the heating element can heat thereagent to a temperature of from about 90° C. to about 100° C.
 30. An insitu antigen recovery and staining apparatus for treating tissue sampleson microscope slides, comprising: a slide support assembly comprising aplurality of slide support elements for supporting a plurality ofmicroscope slides; a heating element incorporated into or adjacent eachslide support element for heating a microscope slide on the slidesupport element wherein the heating element can operate to independentlyheat each microscope slide disposed on the slide support assembly; and atreatment chamber comprising a plurality of closeable reactioncompartments, each reaction compartment having an openable bottomcomprising a portion of the slide support element and an upper side forsupporting a reagent dispensing strip and the upper side having an upperopening through which a reagent can be delivered from the reagentdispensing strip into an inner space of the reaction compartment.
 31. Anin situ antigen recovery and staining apparatus for treating tissuesamples on microscope slides, comprising: a slide support assemblycomprising a plurality of slide support elements for supporting aplurality of microscope slides wherein each slide support element isindependently movable; a heating element incorporated into or adjacenteach slide support element for heating a microscope slide on the slidesupport element; and a treatment chamber comprising a plurality ofcloseable reaction compartments, each reaction compartment having anopenable bottom comprising a portion of the slide support element and anupper side for supporting a reagent dispensing strip and the upper sidehaving an upper opening through which a reagent can be delivered fromthe reagent dispensing strip into an inner space of the reactioncompartment.